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SW255 - Gray Opal Cone 5-10
Item#: 16SW255
UPC#: 097539194751
MPN: SW255P
- Stoneware classic glazes offer the depth, sophistication and reliability to artists working from mid-range to high-fire temperatures.
CONE 5/6 OXIDATION:
- Gray Opal creates a transparent gloss finish. It deepens in color from one coat to three but surface decoration and design remain visible through theglaze even with three coats. The glaze will break and pool around surface textures, creating opportunities for the opalescent character to develop.
CONE 10 REDUCTION:
- Color lightens; becomes more transparent.
* Chips shown are fired flat on a white clay body fired to cone 6 oxidation and cone 10 reduction.
- The choice of clay body, the thickness of glaze application, the firing process, and temperature will affect the fired results.
Gray Opal
TIPS:
* Thinner application will provide a glossy transparent finish.
* Thicker application will provide blue white floating.
* Surface decoration will be visible under the glaze, but if you apply the glaze thick, it could blur your image.
Stoneware Classic
* Mayco’s Stoneware Classic glazes satisfy a variety of performance and color selections that range from bright and vibrant to earthy and subdued.
* Many glazes will break over textures, revealing secondary colors and shades.
* Used alone, stoneware glazes produce beautiful color variations.
* One coat will allow the clay body to show through the glaze and two to three coats deeper the color.
* The choice of clay body, thickness of glaze application, firing process and temperature will affect the fired finish.
* Stoneware glazes provide a variety of finishes, movement, and variation. Some glazes are high gloss, opaque, and flat in color, while others have a more complex surface that is varied in both finish and color.
* The Stoneware Classic glazes also include Opals and Ice (translucent) glazes. These glazes heighten surface details where they gather and pool, work well on a variety of clay bodies and have a firing range from cone 5-10.
General Use
Stoneware Classic & Matte Glazes:
* Stir well.
* Apply to soft-fired bisque (cone 04/06).
* Apply one, two or three coats depending on the result desired.
* Allow each coat to dry before applying the next coat.
* Fire from cone 5/6-10.
** See label for additional firing information for individual glazes and cone 10 performance.
Stoneware Crystal Glazes:
* Crystal glazes are designed to expand upon the surface with dazzling bursts of color.
* Crystals will settle to the bottom of the jar and will need thorough mixing prior to initial use and in between each coat.
* Apply two to three coats using a fan or hake brush.
* While the glaze is wet, use your brush to redistribute crystals to achieve balanced coverage.
* Over application of the crystals can cause pinholing or running.
* Avoid placing crystals near the bottom third of a vertical piece as they may cause additional movement during firing.
** See label for additional firing information for individual glazes and cone 10 performance.
Stoneware Gloss Glazes:
* Stoneware Gloss glazes can be used in design, all over coverage and are the ideal product for intermixability at mid-range temperatures.
* The integrity of your design will remain unchanged as these glazes are incredibly stable and will not move or combine with surrounding colors.
** See label for additional firing information for individual glazes and cone 10 performance.
Dry mix products:
** Always wear a NIOSH-approved respirator when handling dry glazes.
* Gently tumble unopened bag to redistribute material, Sieving is not necessary.
* Mix one 10Ib bag of Dry material into at least 10 pints of water.
* Stir thoroughly.
* Add additional water until desired Specific Gravity is reached.
* Specific Gravity preference will vary between studios, persons, and practice.
* Mayco's recommended Specific Gravity is in the range of 1.47-1.51. This is for a 1 second dip time; you may want to mix to a lower Specific Gravity if you layer your glazes or tend to dip longer.
* Stir well before each use.
* We suggest using dipping tongs.
* Immerse the ware for 1-2 seconds. One dip of Mayco Dry is equivalent to 3 coats.
* Shake excess glaze off gently. Allow the glaze to dry before applying additional coats, if desired.
* When applying Stoneware Dry Crystal glazes, use a cup or ladle to pour the glaze over your piece.
* While the glaze is wet, you may use a fan brush to evenly distnbute the crystals; avoid heavy crystal loading on the bottom 1/3 of your piece.
* Fire to preferred temperature, cones 5-10 (2167°F-2345°F / 1186°C-1285°C).
** Testing recommended.
* The choice of clay body, the thickness of glaze application, the firing process, and temperature will affect the fired results.
Tips:
* Save your bag or log the lot number for if you have any questions for our technical team.
* Apply AC-302 Wax Resist to the bottom for easy dry foot clean-up.
Glaze Combinations
Mayco Stoneware glazes work great layered both under or over other glazes. Artists can achieve incredible finishes with a simple combination of two glazes
All Over Coverage
Used alone, Mayco Stoneware glazes produce beautiful color variations, deepening with additional coats. One coat will allow more of the clay body to show through the glaze. Subsequent coats deepen the color. Gloss Glazes are the ideal product for brightly colored dinnerware.
Stoneware with Stroke & Coat®
Many Stroke & Coat® glazes perform well at mid-range. Darker colors such as red, orange, yellow, blue and green may darken compared to their cone 06 results. Lighter colors such as tan, purple and pink will fade.
Stoneware with Elements™
Many Elements™ and Elements™ Chunkies create beautiful effects when used with stoneware at mid-range. Elements™ will be quite fluid and move during the firing process so keep away from the bottom of the ware.
Stoneware with Jungle Gems™
Jungle Gems™ glazes perform at midrange for very interesting results. Crystals will have additional movement at higher temperatures and will act more as a blending agent.
Stoneware with Designer Liner
Designer Liner enables artists to achieve crisp, non-moving linework from cones 06 – 6 temperatures. To ensure sharpness in line quality, use a non-moving translucent or clear glaze over the top of Designer Liner.
In Design and Majolica
Mayco’s Stoneware Gloss glazes are incredibly stable and opaque in design work and for majolica techniques at mid-range temperatures. The integrity of your design will remain unchanged as these glazes will not move or combine with surrounding colors. Lighter colors can be used over darker colors, remaining bright and opaque.
Over Texture
Most Mayco Stoneware glazes will break over textures, revealing secondary colors and shades. These glazes heighten surface details where they gather and pool.
Cone 10 Firing or Alternative Atmospheric Firing Conditions
Mayco Stoneware glazes are intended for use at cone 5/6, but many are also pleasing and stable at cone 10 oxidation, reduction or other alternative atmospheric firing conditions, such as wood, salt or raku. Cone 10 color performance can also be found on the left side of the stoneware glaze label. The choice of clay body, thickness of glaze application, firing process and temperature will affect the fired results. Due to variability, we recommend testing prior to application to artwork.
Use of Different Clay Bodies
Glazes will perform differently based on clay body used. We recommend testing prior to application to artwork.
Dipping with Stoneware Dry Glazes
Use Mayco Stoneware Dry glazes (SDs) for fast dipping and layering, creating natural flowing effects. Fine and uniform particle size and a thorough dry mixing process make Mayco Stoneware Dry glaze consistency so perfect that sieving is optional. Available in 10 lbs. bags with volume pricing available.
Pouring with Stoneware Crystal Dry Glazes
For fast glazing and flowing effects, we recommend using Mayco’s Stoneware Crystals Dry mix glazes (SDs). Due to the crystals settling to the bottom, we recommend mixing thoroughly and pouring the mixed glazes onto your piece with a pour container or pitcher. Over application in the same area may cause crystals to fall off. Available in 10 lbs. bags with volume pricing available.
Helpful Hints
Stoneware Crystal Glazes
* Crystals will settle to the bottom of the jar and will need a good mixing prior to initial use. Re-stir between each coat. Stir with palette knife or other unpainted tool.
* Over-application or heavy deposition of the crystals can cause pinholing or running.
* Crystals will flow more than the base glaze. During your last coat, use your brush to evenly distribute the crystals over the top two-thirds of the piece and move away from the bottom third.
* While the glaze is wet, you can use your brush to redistribute the crystals to achieve balanced coverage.
* When storing a crystal glaze, you may consider storing upside down to facilitate crystal dispersion on the next use.
Stoneware Matte Glazes
* SW-136 Weathered Blue, SW-137 Storm Gray and SW-138 Lemon Meringue are unique glazes that change in appearance with number of glaze coats. One coat will display more color while additional coats will increase mottling and white variegation.
Usage Variations and FAQs
How do I know what Stoneware glaze is best for me?
- There is a lot of variety with our Stoneware glazes so finding the glazes that work best for you can certainly be intimidating! There are some grouping throughout our Stoneware glaze line that are similar in performance, which can prove helpful when selecting glazes.
- Crystals – Our Stoneware Crystal glazes are a unique line of glazes that contain colorful crystals in the glazes themselves that are designed to melt and bloom during the firing. We add glass aggregate to the base glaze, which melts during the glaze firing to create beautiful crystal blooms and color variation.
- Mattes – Our Stoneware Matte glazes provide a variety of colors and performance characteristics. Some matte glazes have opaque solid coverage and others are semi-transparent and variegated.
- Ice Glazes (SW-201 through SW-212) – These glazes resemble celadons. They provide a variety of transparent colors that work well over design work and texture. Thicker application of these glazes will produce a more saturated color that is still transparent. Pay attention to your brush strokes with these glazes, uneven application will produce variation in the color saturation. To avoid a streaky finish, we recommend applying 3 coats of glaze in a cross-hatching motion. Brush glaze out to a smooth surface to avoid bumps and ridges in the wet glaze. SW-203 Amber Topaz, SW-204 Root Beer, and SW-210 Emerald Green are the only glazes in this line that can produce movement when applied thick. If using any of the 3 over design work, we recommend applying 2 coats to ensure stability. Movement with those 3 glazes will be increased on a vertical surface.
- Opals (SW-250 through SW-255) – These glazes are semi-transparent glazes that have variation in color and opacity that is dependent upon application. Thicker applications will result in a more opaque and saturated color that will pool and break over texture. Thinner application will result in a transparent finish. Applying Opals over design can produce movement depending on the application thickness.
- Gloss (SW-501 through SW-510) – This line of glazes was developed to produce bright, opaque colors with a high gloss finish. They are perfect for detailed design work or all-over vibrant colors at stoneware temperatures. (Also, check out our Gloss article here…)
- Texture (SW-403 through SW-406) – Our Stoneware Texture glazes create a unique and dimensional surface. We offer two different kinds of Stoneware Texture glazes currently, Mudcrack and Magma. Our Mudcrack glazes have a soft matte finish that will pull apart during the firing to reveal the underlying clay body. We have a white and a black Mudcrack available. Our Magma glazes have a dry and cratered finish that expands during the firing to create a textured and dimensional surface. We have a dark and a light Magma available. (Also, check out our texture article here…)
- Flux (SW-401 and SW-402) – Our Fluxes are designed as “glaze enhancers”. They were developed to be used in combination with other stoneware glazes to enhance the mobility. Our Fluxes interact with other glazes to create movement, which bring out hidden colors and variation.
- Washes (SW-301 through SW-305) – Our washes are highly concentrated oxides that can be used alone or in combination with other glazes. Each wash has its own unique qualities, so we recommend testing on test pieces to get an understanding of their individual performance.
Do Stoneware glazes work well in combination?
- Mayco’s Stoneware Classic and Matte glazes are great for layering with other glazes. There is a large variety in performance amongst these glazes, some that we recommend for their performance and compatibility in combinations are SW-104 Black Walnut, SW-106 Alabaster, SW-108 Green Tea, SW-110 Oyster, SW-128 Cordovan, SW-165 Lavender Mist, SW-166 Norse Blue, SW-167 Sand and Sea, SW-168 Coral Sands, SW-172 Macadamia, SW-173 Amber Quartz, and SW-174 Leather. They work great layered both under or over other glazes. Find some inspiration in our stoneware combination gallery.
- Mayco’s Stoneware Crystal glazes are also great for layering with other glazes! The crystals will often pop through with most combinations and really add an extra element of excitement to any combination. Our crystal glazes work great layered both under and over other glazes.
- All of our Stoneware Gloss glazes can be layered with other glazes. We recommend applying our Stoneware Gloss glazes as the top glaze in a combination if you want the color to be most visible. Applying it as a base of a combination will not produce any ill effects, but it is likely to get lost underneath another glaze due to the stable nature of the product. These glazes do not add much movement to glaze combinations.
What is the best way to apply Mayco’s Stoneware glazes?
- We offer both brushing and dipping formulations for all of our Stoneware glazes.
- For brushing application: apply 2-3 coats of glaze allowing the glaze to dry in between coats.
- For dipping application: Agitate glaze immediately before use. Securely grab the piece with dipping tongs and submerge for 1 full second to achieve the equivalent of 3 coat brushing glaze. Allow the piece to dry before subsequent dips if desired. Mayco’s Stoneware glazes have a variety of performance qualities. For best results we always recommend testing with your preferred clay body and firing temperature. Glazes variation is dependent upon application technique and thickness.
How should I fire Mayco’s Stoneware glazes?
- All Mayco’s Stoneware glazes have a firing range from cone 5 to cone 10. No particular firing schedule is necessary to achieve the beautiful variation that these glazes create. All of the samples that we showcase in our promotional material and literature are glazed on a white clay body and fired to cone 6 unless otherwise noted. Expect some variation in the results depending on the glaze thickness, clay body, firing atmosphere, and firing temperature. We have cone 10 reduction results on our website, in our Stoneware Brochure, and listed on the label.
Are Mayco’s Stoneware glazes Food Safe and Dinnerware Safe?
- All of Mayco’s Stoneware glazes are both Food Safe when used according to manufacturer’s directions and Dinnerware Safe with the exception of SW-132 Mirror Black, SW-182 Antique Brass, SW-164 Satin Patina, our Stoneware Texture glazes (SW-403 through SW-406), and our Stoneware Washes when used alone (SW-301 through SW-305). There is a factor of personal discretion when considering the use of any glaze on a surface that comes in contact with food. Some factors such as clay body, firing temperature, firing atmosphere, and the layering of glazes also contribute to the suitability of a ware for dinnerware use. It is the responsibility of the customer to practice practical consideration of these factors and observe how they affect the final fired surface. For more information about Food Safe and Dinnerware Safe guidelines check here: https://www.maycocolors.com/resources/dinnerware-food-safety/
Can Mayco Stoneware Glazes be fired to cone 10?
- Yes the can. Some will change significantly, some not much. Best we can do is provide this visual gallery and let you see what each glaze can do at cone 10 reduction. Cone 10 color performance can also be found on the left side of the stoneware glaze label. The choice of clay body, thickness of glaze application, firing process and temperature will affect the fired results. Due to variability, we recommend testing prior to application to artwork.
What is this stuff in my Stoneware Crystal glaze?
- The crystals that we mentioned above are actually glass aggregate that create the beautiful crystal blooms and variation in the fired glazes. These crystals are designed to expand upon the surface during the firing. No particular firing schedule is required to produce the dazzling burst of color that the crystals provide.
How is knowing the base glaze of the Stoneware Crystals helpful?
- Knowing the base glaze to any of Mayco’s Stoneware Crystal Glazes is useful information for several reasons. First, it provides some insight as to how the glaze will perform. SW-181 Night Moth for example, the base glaze is SW-508 Black Gloss. Black Gloss is a very stable and opaque glaze, which gives reason to believe that Night Moth will not have much movement and will provide great coverage. Of course, there are multiple factors that contribute to the performance of any glaze, but familiarizing yourself with the base glaze is a great place to start! Another benefit of knowing (and possessing!) the base glaze is the option to control the crystal loading and possibly even extend the life of your glaze. If you have the base glaze in your studio, you can cut in some coats of the base glaze to help lighten the crystal loading if you only want a little variation or are glazing near the bottom of your piece. It also provides a great compliment to be used alongside the crystal glaze.
How do I get the Stoneware Crystals off the bottom of the jar?
- When you first open a jar of Mayco’s Stoneware Crystal glazes, be sure to agitate the crystal pebbles from the bottom of the jar by stirring. Once you have broken up this glorious mound of magical star dust, replace the lid tightly and give it a good shake to distribute the crystals throughout the entire jar. Then you are good to go! Storing our crystal glazes upside down can help keep the crystals near the top of the jar, but no matter how you store your glaze, be sure to give it a good shake before each use.
What is the best way to apply Stoneware Crystal glazes?
- We offer both brushing and dipping formulations for all of our Stoneware Crystal glazes.
- For brushing application: apply 2-3 coats of glaze allowing the glaze to dry in between coats.
- For dipping application: Agitate glaze immediately before use. Be sure to adequately disperse crystals throughout the glaze and immediately pour the glaze over the ware using a ladle or cup.
- While glaze is still wet, use a brush to help evenly disperse the crystals. Be aware of the crystal loading and dispersion on all of your pieces. Heavy concentrations of crystals can create movement in the glaze. Avoid having a heavy concentration of crystals near to bottom of your piece to ensure successful results.
How should I fire Mayco’s Stoneware Crystal glazes?
- As with all of Mayco’s Stoneware glazes, they have a firing range from cone 5 to cone 10. No particular firing schedule is necessary to achieve the beautiful variation that these glazes create. The samples we showcase in our promotional material and literature are glazed on a white clay body and fired to cone 6 unless otherwise noted. Expect some variation in the results depending on the glaze thickness, clay body, firing atmosphere, and firing temperature. We have cone 10 reduction results on our website, in our Stoneware Brochure, and listed on the label.
Can I mix your Stoneware Gloss glazes to create new colors?
- These glazes are 100% intermixable and perfect for shading and blending. Looking for a grey? Mix one-part SW-508 to three-parts SW-501 and there you have it, a perfect grey for all your shading needs. If you can do with paint, you can do it with Mayco’s Gloss glazes! Using teaspoons of color is a good way to experiment with different ratios of color without wasting glaze. Once you have found the color you want, you can always up the size to tablespoons, ounces, cups or 5lb bags of dry color. Enjoy exploring the endless colors you can create with this palette of ten simple glazes.
Mayco Stoneware Dry-Mix Glazes don't have to be sieved - why?
- Mayco's manufacturing process includes ball milling to very precise particles sizes. All you need to do to use our dry-mix glazes is add water, slake, stir and DIP. You’ll love the sheeting action when dipping and be pleased to find that our dry-mix glazes will not settle out in your storage bucket.
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